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Flying Dutchmen Seek 4th Straight Win Against New Opponent

The MIAA-leading Flying Dutchmen step outside league play for a first-time meeting against Tri-State University in Angola, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Kickoff will be 1:30 p.m. EDT.

The game will be broadcast by WHTC-AM (1450) and WFUR-FM (102.9). The WHTC broadcast can also be heard on the internet through www.hope.edu/athletics.

For the second time this season, the Flying Dutchmen play a team nicknamed The Thunder. (Wheaton was the other.)

This will be a first-time meeting with future MIAA member Tri-State. The Thunder is playing every MIAA team this season on a non-league basis. Next year, when Tri-State University becomes a provisional NCAA Division III member, the games will count in the league standings.

This is Hope's 94th year of football. Tri-State has sponsored football for nine years. The Thunder becomes Hope's 68th alltime football opponent.

The second quarter has been pivotal to Hope's success this season. Hope and its opponents have each scored 30 points in the first quarter this season, but the Flying Dutchmen have gained a 76-30 advantage in the second quarter. Opponents have out-scored Hope in the second quarter, by 28-23 in the third quarter and 39-34 in the fourth.

Tailback Dan Bloemers has rushed for over 100 yards in four of Hope's six games, including 119 yards on 27 carries last Saturday against Adrian. He continues on track for a 1,000-yard season, with 629 yards in six games. He leads the MIAA in scoring with 10 touchdowns.

Quarterback Phil Butler surpassed two milestone marks in Saturday's victory over Adrian. He now has 508 pass completions for 7,024 yards. The NCAA Division III career marks in those categories are 1,012 completions for 13,262 yards by Justin Perry of Westminster, Mo. from 1996-99.

Jeff Eldersveld leads the MIAA in pass receiving yardage per game (104.7 ypg) and all-purpose running (151.5 ypg). Hope has two other receivers in the MIAA's top five, #3 Joe Verschueren, 85.2 ypg and #5 Jake Schrock, 70.0 ypg.

Bob Frey became Tri-State's head coach just a month before the start of the season after compiling an excellent 57-25 record over eight seasons at MacMurray College in Illinois. His 2002 team was undefeated in the regular season (10-0) and qualified for the Division III playoffs for the second consecutive year.